Paper-reinforcing machine



' A. SCHWARTZ.

PAPER REINFORCING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEDAUG-G. 191a.

Patented June 28, 1921. "7 5-SHEETSSHEET l. 5

.A. SCHWARTZ.

PAPER BEINFORCING MACHINE.

- Patented June 28, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2 0mm aczmrzz J H m APPLICATION FILED AUG-6, 1918.

A. SCHWARTZ. PAPR HEINFORCING MACHINE.

1 APPLICATION FILED AUG.6, mm;

Patented June 28, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

in we 7% 7": aurora doi ari A. SCHWARTZ. PAPER BEINFORCING MACHINE.APPLICATION FILED was. 1913.

Patented June 28, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 mn ficiwqirii A. SCHWARTZ. 'PAPER REI-NFORCING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-6,1918.- 1,383,243.

Patented June 28, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AARON SCHWARTZ, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 SAFEPACK MILLS,015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

PAPER-REINFORGING- MACHINE.

Application filed August 6, 1918.

To all 9 a 710m it may concern Be it known that I, AARON SCHWARTZ, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Brookline, county ofNorfolk, Commonwealth of lvlassachusetts, have invented an improvementin Paper-Reinforcing Machines, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likecharacters on the drawings representing like parts in each of theseveral views.

This invention relates to apparatus for laying threads or filaments oftextile or metallic wire upon the surface of a paper or like web whichhas been previously treated with adhesive which may be a waterproofingpitch or like coating. More particularly the invention has to do withimproved mechanism for applying transverse threads or filaments to anadhesive coated web as the web is moved continuously forward and with acapability of relatively high speed operation, In accordance with myinvention transverse threads may be applied with any desired spacing andas close together as may be desired these threads running straightacross the web and at right angles to the lengthwise threads orfilaments which may be deposited by any suitable or usual means withwhich the invention is not directly concerned. A prime object of theinvention is to provide. a relatively simple and compact mechanism thatwhile capable of cooperative action to lay the transverse threads withthe required spacing on a paper web moving at a relatively high rate ofspeed, still requires no high speed of movement in any part of themechanism itself, the invention for this purpose including improvedmeans whereby the longest possible interval is allowed for the drawingof the threads into position across the paper web, and likewise amaximum. interval during which the threads are pressed and held tautagainst the coated surface so as to be properly laid and imyn'cssed. inthe hot pitch or like coating. To this end I provide a series ofuni-directional moving members equipped to draw threads or filamentstransversely of the paper web while out of operative alinement withrespect thereto, and having a range of movement lengthwise of the paperweb and inwardly with respect thereto to deposit the threads upon thecoated surface and hold them in engagement therewith for the req-Specification of Letters .Patent.

Patented June as, 1921.

Serial No. 248,640.

uisite interval. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of theinvention will morelully appear from the following detailed description,and the distinctive fea tures of novelty will be pointed out in theappended claims.

'Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing an apparatus constructed in accordancewith my invention;

Fig. 2 is a lengthwise vertical section 011 line 2-2 of Fig. 1; i

F 3 is a transverse vertical section on line of Fig. 1; i

Fig. i is a lengthwise vertical section on line H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig.4:;

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged detail elevation illustrating the mountingof a thread supply spool;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail showing a portion of the means foroperating the thread drawing elements;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 7 I

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail side view with parts broken away showing anend of one of the thread drawing elements;

Fig, 10 shows an end View of the thread drawing element of Fig. 9; y

F 11 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 9 but showing a modifiedform;

Fig. 12 is an end view, of the device of Fig. 11 but showing some littlemore of the operating means;

Fig. 13 is a detail view of one of the thread gripping members.

Fig.14 is av partial plan view showing a means of controlling the threaddrawing elements associated with the idle rolls;

Fig. 15 is an end view thereof; and

Fig. 16 is a side view thereof.

Upon a suitable base or floor upright ournal posts 1, 2, 3, l aremounted, these being equipped with journal bearings for spaced apartshafts 5, 6 which are horizontally mounted in parallel relation. Theseshafts which require to be strong and substantial since they support theworking frame of the machine as later described, are shown as ofsubstantial diameter and hollow so as to obtain greater stiffness andstrength. These shafts have journaled thereon and support, pairs of yokebrackets 7, 8, the pair of brackets 7 is located adjacent one end of theshafts 5, 6 while the other pair of brackets 8 is spaced therefromtoward the other end. of said shafts a distance somewhat greater thanthe width of the paper web on which the threads are to be laid.' Theseyoke brackets are held in this position by suitable collars 9 fixed onthe shafts at eachside of the yokes of these brackets which encircle andfit on the shafts. Thepairs of yoke brackets 7,8 of each pair aresecured together by having top rails 10 bolted or otherwise securedthereto and also having bottom rails 11 also secured thereto some littledistance beneath the shafts, the lower projections of these yokebrackets being shown as formed with ofiset portions constituting seats12 to receive the lower rails 11. The yoke brackets 7 8 and.

units of the mechanism which draws the threads transversely of the paperweb Each of these thread drawing units consists in journal posts 15, 16fixed to the axle rods 14 adjacent the ends thereof. These journal postsare equipped with bearings for rolls 17, 18 on which is mounted a belt19, these belts bearing the thread gripping jaws or fingersto be laterdescribed. One of these rolls, shown as the roll 17 is larger than theother and is equipped with. means to receive driving impulse so as tooperate the belt 19. For thus driving the several rolls 17 each of themhas on its shaft and rigid therewith a gear pinion 20in mesh withanother gear pinion 21 on avstub shaft carried by the post 15 and inturn driven by another pinion 22 which is rigid with a pin wheel 23 orlike gear element journaled at the base of the post 15. The pins 23* ofthe pin wheel'23 during the period that the thread drawing units arebeing moved along the upper rails 10, engage with the teeth 24 of aninclined toothed rack 25 which is carried on the rails 10 and shown asintegral therewith and produced on an inwardly extending flange thereof,though this showing is merely illustrative. Since it is requisite thatthe thread drawing units be disposed closely adjacent one another sothat there will be'no break in the series of threads, I preferablyarrange the driving connections for alternate units at opposite sides ofthe machine as shown so as to allow the necessary room for the pinwheels 23 and the driving train therefrom. This necessitates theprovision of one of the racks 25 on the rails 10 at bothsides of themachine so that one thereof will be in position to engage and drive theseries of pin wheels of each of the two oppositely arranged series ofunits. In carrying out this opposite disposition of alternate units thesmall idle rolls 18 may be mounted on their posts '16 just within theadjacent driving roll 17 of the adjacent belt and so as to be out of theway of the described driving con nections thereto. For advancing thethread drawing and holding units, the axle rods 14 thereof are connectedtogether by sprocket chains 26 at the two sides of the machine, thesesprocket chains being mounted on sprocket wheels 27 fixed on the shafts5, 6. Thus the series of thread drawingand laying units comprised by thebelts 19, with their thread gripping fingers, are given a continuousuni-directional. movement, one portion of which is in a straight path asguided by the rails 10 when these units are elevated from and away fromthe paper, and during which time the transverse threads are drawn outtransversely across the paper web, and another portion of which movementis also in a straight pathas guided by the lower rails 11, during whichtime the transversely drawn threads are pressed into contact with thecoated sheet and moved along therewith for the requisite intervaluntilthey are cut off by suitable severing devices to be described.Forholding the journal posts 15, 16 steady with respect to the sprocketchains 26 which advance them, suitable means shown as links 28associated with the posts 16 and-ears 29 associated with the post 15 maybe provided to tie the sides of these yoke posts tothe chains andprevent angular displacement thereof about the rods 14. For insuringproper cooperative engagement of the pins. 23 of the pin wheels 23 withthe inclined teeth of rack 24 as each pin wheel comes into engagementwith the advance end of said rack I preferably provide said rack with adownwardly yielding forward extremity 25 pivoted at 25 to the body ofthe rack and normally pressed upward into an operative plane by a leafspring 25 engaging thereunder. -The teeth at this extremity are beveledoff as seen at 25 so that should a pin 23 come initially against an endof a tooth instead of against a side thereof, said extremity may yielddownward and thus avoid damage, until the continued forward movement ofthe pin wheel locates the pin within the inclined groove between theteeth whereupon the turning movement thus initiated in the pin wheelwill insure cooperative engagement thereof with the succeeding inclinedand as shown each belt having means for gripping and drawing thirty-twothreads. As thread gripping and drawing means I provide each belt withrows or series of thread gripping jaws 190 extending thereacross, theseseries of jaws being spaced apart a distance a little greater than thewidth of the paper web to be handled so that when, the belts with theirgrippers are stationary as they are in their passage along the lowerstretch of their circuit, the threads are held taut between thesegripping jaws during the time they are pressed against the coated papersurface and until they are cut off. The length of the belts i9 is soproportioned with reference to the width of the paper web to be handledand the distance between the rows of gripping jaws that the length ofthe entire belt will be an exact multiple of the distance between therows of jaws, and as shown the length of the belt is three times thedistance between rows of jaws this of course being the minimum possiblehaving in mind the stretch of the belt required to extend around therolls. For securing the rows of thread gripping fingers to the belts anysuitable provision may be adopted but preferably and as shown the bets,0* at least the portions of them on which the rows of gripping fingersare mounted are composed of chain links as seen at 30 having outstandingtherefrom and rigid therewith finger projections 31 constitutingstationary jaws, these projections being spaced apart across the widthof the belt a distance corresponding to the desired spacing of thetransverse threads or filaments to be laid on the paper. Each of thesefinger projections or stationary jaws has pivoted thereto at anintermediate point at 32 a movable jaw 33, the outer end of which ispressed against the stationary jaw to grip the thread therebetween bysuitable means shown as a spring anchored about the pivot 32 and havingits active end engaging the outer portion of the movable jaw.' It isrequisite that suitable means he provided for opening these jaws as theycome up into the range of the threads being drawn off and then releasingthem to close for gripping the threads as soon as they are positionedtherein. One form of such means associated with the driving rolls 1'? isshown in Figs. 9 and 10 wherein the tail portions 33 of the movable jawsare all simultaneously engaged by projections on a rod 35 which isguided through the stationary jaws 31, and the end of this rod which isnormally projected outward by the springs of the movable jaws is engagedas the jaws swing upward toward operative position by a cam piece 36fixed to the forked journal posts 15, this cam piece terminating at apoint directly over the axis of the roll 17 so that as the aws reachupright position with the threads located therein the movable jaws willbe released to grip the threads and draw them transversely across thepaper, this ac tion continuing preferably throughout substantially theentire extent of travel of the drawing units on the rails 10 and thusafford ing a maximum interval for drawing the threads out so that arelatively low speed pulling movement on the threads as drawn from thespools is required. As the pin wheels pass out of engagement with theinclined racks 25, the movement of the drawing belts ceases and thethreads thus held taut between the spaced apart rows of gripping jawsare transferred by the move ment of the units on the chains 26 clownwardinto engagement with the paper web which is moved continuously forwardon a suitable platform 37 which extends just beneath the lower stretchof the line of draw ing units and in position so that the coated sheetthereon will have the threads thus held by the gripping jaws depositedand pressed thereonto, the platform 37 for this purpose preferablyextending a little above the plane in which the threads would be held bythe gripping jaws so that they are pressed on to the coated surface ofthe paper to the required extent. Since the pin wheels 23 do not alwaysengage the inclined racks at exactly the same point, and for otherreasons a slight irregularity in the extent of transverse movement ofthe thread drawing bolts 19 may result I preferably arrange themechanism as described, to operate these belts normally a little fartherthan the position for correct register of the rows of thread grippingjaws at each side of the paper web, and then provide means for movingthe belts backward to the very small extent required to bring them intoprecise and correct register. F or this purpose 1 show a curved rail 37stationarilymounted at the end of the machine where the thread drawingunits turn downward, at the side of the machine toward which the beltsmove as seen in Fig. 1, these rails gradually inclining inward and beingin position to engage the row of gripping jaws and move them with thebelt by which they are carried slightly backward to the required ex tentfor alinement after they have been released by the disengagement of thepin wheel from the end of the inclined rack. It will be understood thatthe paper web should move forward continuously in exact synchronism withthe forward movement of the threads as carried by the sprocket chains 26and this may be accomplished either by permitting the paper to be movedforward freely by the frictional engagement of the threads with thecoated surface thereof, or separate positive gear connections of anysuitable and usual type (not shown) may be employed to connect a feedfor the paper with the driving means which revolve the shafts 5, 6 andthus operate the thread laying mechanism. It is requisite that thethreads be severed at each edge of the paper web as the gripping jawsnear the end of their travel with the paper and for this purposesuitable cutters 38 which may be arranged as stationary shear knives aremounted in position to cut off the threads just inside of the nippers ateach side of the web. Since reinforcing threads extending lengthwise ofthe paper web are also usually employed, a suitable source of supply ofthese lengthwise threads is indicated at 89 where they are delivered onto the paper just in advance of the transverse thread laying mechanism,and in cases where it is desired to lay a second series of longitudinalthreads over the transverse threads at second lengthwise thread layingmechanism 40 may be positioned just in advance of the transverse threadlaying mechanism described to lay the second series of longitudinalthreads over the cross threads and immediately after the layingthereof,these longitudinal thread laying devices being however of usualor suitable type well known in the art and forming per se no part of thepresent invention. For supplying the transverse threads. to the threadlaying -mechanism described, it is of course requisite that carriermechanism be provided for a number of spools corresponding to the numberof threads employed and movable in. synchronism with the thread layingunits. For

this purpose I mount on the shafts 5, Sand adjacent the thread layingmechanism described -a second set of sprocket wheels 41 having fittedthereon sprocket chains 42, these chains bearing rods 43 extendingtherebetween and serving as a mounting for out wardly extending staffsor posts 44 fixed at each end thereof which staffs may be braced by thelinks 45 extending from an intermediate point thereof obliquely down tothe chain. The staffs 44 have fixed thereto a plate mounting 46 on whichare secured a series of spools 47 in sufficient number to supply thethreads for the respective thread laying units described, it beingunderstood that the number of these thread supply units will correspondto that of the thread laying units with a thread supply unit inalinement with each thread laying unit as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Inorder to hold the spools 47 to best advantage on the plates 46 they arepreferably mounted on both sides of these plates as best seen in Fig. 4so that each unit may hold the required number of spools without havingthem too close together. The spools 47 may be held on the plates 46 insuitable manner to provide the requisite tension, this being shown asaccomplished by interposing a plate spring 48 at the base of each spoolwhich is fitted on the arbor and held in place thereon by a slottedcross bar 49, the slot at one end of which engages a pin at the end ofthe arbor as seen at 50 to permit easy release and at the same time asecure locking of the spools in place, the inner end of said slot beingfor the purpose slightly widened to make a seating recess for the pin asshown. For guiding the threads T from the spools a suitable guide plate51 may be mounted at the tops of the staffs 44, the plates beingpreferably as shown in Fig. 1 tapering in form with thread guidingprojections or pins 52 along the tapering sides thereof, over each ofwhich a thread is guided to the nipper jaws of the thread and layingmechanism, Since it is requisite that the sprocket chains 26, 42 besubstantially taut and without slack for proper operation, the bearinguprights one end, shown as the uprights 1, 2 for the shaft 5, areadjustable on the base or floor by suitable adjusting screw meansindicated generally at 53. in Figs. 11 and 12 l show a slightmodification of the means for opening the movable jaws 33 to receive thethreads, this consisting in a plate member 54 secured to the yoke posts15 and having a comb tooth formation as seen at 55, the pro ections orteeth of which are adapted to engage the movable jaws as these swingaround the roll 17 the outer ends of these jaws and the fixed jaws beingfirst guided into the spaces between these teeth and then as the jawsswing farther around the tail portions passing into such spaces andopening the jaws as seen in Fig. 11. The projections of this combformation extend around to a point over the axis of the roll 17 as seenat 55 to hold the movable jaws open long enough to receive the threadsas the jaws come up on to the upper stretch of their travel and thenpermitting these jaws to close and grip the threads as alreadydescribed.

For operating the movable jaws at the end of the belt stretch where theypass around the small idle rolls 18 a modification of the describedmeansis requisite since such means must not extend beyond the ends of theroll. in this case as shown in Figs. 14-16 the movable jaws connectedtogether for simultaneous operation as described by the rods 35 areengaged at an intermediate point by a rigid curved arm 56 which is fixedto the post 16 as seen at 57 and extends up around the belt passingaround the roll 18 with a beveled formation as seen at 56 adapted toengage between the tail of one of the movable jaws and the adjacentfixed jaw as the row of jaws swings upward to thus open the entire rowof jaws simultaneously by a movement transmitted through the rod 35. Athread guiding plate 58 is also fixed to the post 16 extending up intothe plane of the threads '1 where it is formed with thread guidingpassages 58 adapted to guide the threads and hold them alined forengagement in the gripping jaws as they swing upward. Driving means forthe described mechanism may be transmitted as shown to the shaft 6 by aspur gear train 60 from a drive shaft (Sl which maybe considered theprime drive shaft of the present machine and which may be suitablyconnected with the paper feeding mechanism operate the same in unisonwith the thread laying instrumentalities.

The operation of the apparatus having been already indicated in.connection with the structural description need be only brieflysummarized. The paper web is drawn from a suitably located and mountedroll B through a coating station S where the pitch or like adhesivecoating is applied thereto and thence past guide rolls 1' over theplatform 37, the lengthwise threads or filaments 89 being delivered insuitable manner to the surface of the paper as it passes to saidplatform. Power may be imparted to either of the shafts 6 but preferablyto the shaft 6 as described so that there will be a pulling action ofthe sprocket chains 26 on the thread laying units as they are in contactwith the paper web. As each successive thread laying unit moving in thedirection of the arrow A is moved upward around the sprocket wheels onthe shaft 6, its pin wheel 23 coming into engagement with the inclinedteeth 2a of one of the racks 25 initiates a thread drawing movement ofthe belt 19 which will draw the series of threads handled by that unitfrom the bank of spools on the corresponding thread supply unit, thismovement continuing gradually and at a relatively low speed asillustrated in Fig. 1. preferably throughout the upper stretch of travelof these units and until they come opposite the sprocket wheels on theshaft 5 to be swung downward into operative position thereby, whereuponthe pin wheel moving out of the inclined rack, the thread drawingmovement of the belt ceases. If desired means may be provided forsuperposing another layer of paper over the threads on the coatedsurface, this being indicated at 59 at the delivery end of the apparatusand adjacent the means for laying the second series of longitudinalthreads. I consider of special value and importance the provision ofmeans whereby the threads are constantly held and kept in control by thegripping and drawing out devices, this with the unidirectionaltransverse drawing out belts 19 being embodied in the successive seriesof gripping jaws 33 which successively move up to operative position andgrip the thread before it is cut off or released by the preceding j aw.Thus the possibility of failure in the gripping action to draw out thethreads which has been an objection to machines hitherto proposedwherein new holds have to be taken on the thread ends at each movementis avoided. I am aware that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be consideredin all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being hadto the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description toindicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for supporting andadvancing a paper web in longitudinal continuous movement, and meanscontinuously moving longitudinally for depositing transverse threadsthereon during the web movement mounted for a. cycle of movement intoand away from operative relation with the paper web, and having meanscooperative therewith for drawing the threads transversely of the webwhile out of operative relation with the web.

2. Thread laying apparatus, comprising means for supporting andadvancing a paper web in longitudinal continuous movement, and mechanismfor laying transverse threads continuously thereon during such webmovement consisting in thread carriers having a cycle of movement, oneportion of which presents the threads to the paper surface.

and holds them pressed thereagainst for a substantial interval as thepaper moves forward, said carriers having means associated therewithcausing each carrier successsively to draw out required lengths ofthreads during an inoperative portion of the carrier cycle of movement.

3. Thread laying apparatus, comprising means for supporting andadvancing a paper web in longitudinal continuous movement, and threadcarriers mounted to cooperate therewith having a uni-directional. cycleof movement to present the threads to the paper and press themthereagainst during one portion of such cycle, and having meansassociated therewith and operated thereby for drawing out requiredlengths of threads transversely of the paper while said carriers are inan inoperative portion of their cycle of movement.

4. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for supporting apaper web for continuous movement, thread carriers mounted for anoperative cycle of movement with respect thereto, one portion of suchcycle presenting the threads to the paper surface and holding thempressed thereagainst for a substantial interval as the pa per movesforward, and means having a unidirectional movement transversely of thepaper for drawing out the threads during an inoperative portion of thecycle of movement of said carriers.

5. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising means for supporting apaper web for continuous movement, thread carriers mounted for anoperative cycle of movement with respect thereto, one portion of suchcycle presenting the threads to the paper surface and holding thempressed thereagainst for a substantial interval as the paper movesforward, and means having a unidirectional movement transversely of thepaper and having operative connections to be actuated by the carriermovement for drawing out the threads during an inoperative portion ofthe cycle of movement of said carriers.

6. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a support for a paperweb, thread carriers mounted for a cycle of movement to deposit andpressthreads upon the paper on said support, and means for drawing out thethreads transversely of the paper web consisting in a plurality ofgripping devices for each thread having a uni-directional move ment, andhaving provision for the opening of each thereof to receive the threadand for then closing to grip the thread before it is released from thecontrol of the preceding gripping device.

7. In a thread la in a aratus means for drawing out the threadstransversely of a paper web consisting in a plurality of successivelyacting grippers having uni-directional movement,and carriers on whichsaid grippers, are mounted for an operative cycle of movement intoproximity of the paper surface and away therefrom.

8. In a thread laying apparatus, means for drawing out the threadstransversely of a paper web consisting in a plurality of sucfor drawingout the threads transversely of a paper web consisting in a plurality ofsuccessively acting grippers having unidirectional movement, carriers onwhich said grippers are mounted for an operative cycle of movement intoproximity of the paper surface and away therefrom, and means forimparting said transverse movement to said grippers by the movement ofsaid carriers, the path of said carriers being orbital and so arrangedthat while the carriers traveling in a lower stretch of said orbitalpath are presenting their threads to the paper surface those travelingin an upper stretch are being successively replenished.

10. In a thread laying apparatus, means for drawing out the threadstransversely of a paper webconsisting in a plurality of successivelyacting grippers having uni-directional' movement, carriers on which saidgrippers are mounted for an operative cycle of movement into proximityof the paper surface and away therefrom, and means for imparting saidtransverse movement to said grippers, the path-of said carriers beingorbital and so arranged that while the carriers traveling in a lowerstretch of said orbital path are presenting their threads to the papersurface those traveling in an upper stretch are being successivelyreplenished.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

AARON SCHWARTZ.

